This is page numbers 2493 - 2524 of the Hansard for the 19th Assembly, 2nd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was care.

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R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you. Perhaps I can ask Mr. Saturnino to discuss how exactly this would roll out and what types of courses and when those courses would have had to have been taken, if it's looking in the past or future-looking. That should give Members an idea of what this would look like rolling out. Thank you.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Saturnino.

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Saturnino

Thank you, Madam Chair. The way Blue Seal programs are typically set up is that there is typically a set of courses that are deemed to be required, and they are usually, of course, business-related courses. With regard to the program, I don't know that there would necessarily be an exam similar to a Red Seal, more like meeting the requirements, so the required courses. The plan typically with most of the Blue Seal programs is that you can go back and look at courses you've already taken. The standard for most postsecondary institutions as well as the trades is typically looking back 10 years, but that's something that we need to establish as we develop the program further. Thank you.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member.

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Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, that clarifies it. I guess I've got to take the courses. Thank you.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Great Slave.

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Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes. My colleague just made me think of a question there. Will there be the ability to take this program over a period of time? I'm assuming, of course, that you wouldn't have to do it all in one year or anything, but how long of a period of time would people get? Could they do this sort of as a part-time thing, take a course a year, and eventually, over time, work towards it? Or are they going to be restricted to doing it in a quicker time frame? Thank you, Madam Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Minister.

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R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you. I don't think we're there yet in the development, given that the legislation is just before us now, but if you look at other jurisdictions, sometimes, it's a program, sometimes, it's a combination of courses. There doesn't appear, from what I've seen, to be a strict time frame. As Mr. Saturnino said, if you look back 10 years, then perhaps we could see what was taken in those 10 years. I think there is some flexibility, and as with everything that we do here, we can adapt it to the realities of the North, as well. Thank you.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Member for Great Slave.

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Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Thank you. I do appreciate hearing the Minister say that. I worry, sometimes, as we go toward certifications and regulatory-type things, which we do need, there is often a reason why they don't get developed in the North specifically, because we can't support, sometimes, creating more red tape. Just more of a comment, but I'm really glad to hear that. Thank you.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, and I will take that as a comment. Are there any further general comments? Does committee agree that there are no further general comments?

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Can we proceed to the clause-by-clause review of the bill?

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Committee, we will defer the bill number and title until after consideration of the clauses. Please turn to page 1 of the bill. Clause 1. Does committee agree?

---Clauses 1 through 4 inclusive approved

Committee, to the bill as a whole, does committee agree that Bill 12, An Act to Amend the Apprenticeship, Trades and Occupational Certification Act, is now ready for third reading?

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, committee. Bill 12, An Act to Amend the Apprenticeship, Trades and Occupational Certification Act, is now ready for third reading. Does committee agree that this concludes our consideration of Bill 12, An Act to Amend the Apprenticeship, Trades and Occupational Certification Act?

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister, and thank you to our witnesses. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses from the Chamber. Committee, we have agreed to consider Bill 13, An Act to Amend the Interpretation Act. I will ask the Minister of Justice to introduce the bill.

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R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am here today to present Bill 13, An Act to Amend the Interpretation Act. I would like to thank the Standing Committee on Social Development for their thorough review of this bill. A motion was made in committee to ensure there is an opportunity for public engagement prior to this bill coming into force, and I believe the bill has improved as a result.

Bill 13 will amend the Interpretation Act to allow for the elimination of seasonal time changes in favour of a permanent, year-round time standard. Specifically, the bill establishes a permanent time standard and prescribes that the Commissioner and Executive Council set this out in regulations that will replace the current Daylight Saving Time Regulations.

The proposed amendment will be brought into force by order of the Commissioner at a future date. This means that, after the bill receives assent, biannual time changes will continue to be observed until an order is made to make the change to a permanent time standard. This change was prompted by previously voiced public support, research findings that permanent time is healthier and safer, as well as a growing trend in which Canadian and international jurisdictions are eliminating seasonal time changes in favour of a permanent time standard. This amendment will position the NWT to be able to move expeditiously to a permanent time standard as this issue continues to evolve across Canadian jurisdictions.

This concludes my opening remarks, and I would be pleased to answer any questions that Members may have regarding Bill 13.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. I will now turn to the chair of the Standing Committee on Social Development, the committee that considered the bill, for her opening comments. Member for Kam Lake.

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Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. Bill 13, An Act to Amend the Interpretation Act, received second reading in the Legislative Assembly on October 29, 2020, and was referred to the Standing Committee on Social Development for review. On February 9, 2021, the standing committee held a public hearing with the Minister of Justice and completed its clause-by-clause review of the bill. Committee passed one motion with concurrence from the Minister of Justice. I thank the committee and committee staff for their efforts in reviewing this legislation. Individual Members may have additional comments or questions. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Minister, would you like to bring witnesses into the Chamber?

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R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Yes. If there's a witness in that room, I'd like to bring them into the Chamber.